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Kotor - Things to Do in Kotor in July

Things to Do in Kotor in July

July weather, activities, events & insider tips

July Weather in Kotor

30°C (86°F) High Temp
22°C (72°F) Low Temp
2.5 mm (0.1 inches) Rainfall
70% Humidity

Is July Right for You?

Advantages

  • Peak Adriatic swimming season - water temperatures hit 24-26°C (75-79°F), which is genuinely warm enough for hours in the water without a wetsuit. The Bay of Kotor acts like a massive bathtub in July, and locals actually prefer it to the open sea.
  • Extended daylight until 8:45pm means you can hike the fortress walls starting at 6:30am to avoid the heat, work through midday, then have a full evening exploring the Old Town when temperatures drop to comfortable levels around 7pm. You're not losing half your day to darkness like you would in winter.
  • Summer ferry schedules are running at full capacity - boats to Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, and the Blue Cave operate every 30-45 minutes instead of the sparse winter timetable. Day trips to Dubrovnik (Croatia) run daily, and the coastal route to Budva has hourly departures.
  • Kotor's position at the end of the bay creates reliable afternoon sea breezes that actually make July more bearable than you'd expect at 30°C (86°F). The mountain backdrop channels air movement, so outdoor dining remains comfortable into the evening - you'll notice locals eating outside until 10pm or later.

Considerations

  • Cruise ship season is absolutely brutal in July - some days bring 3-4 massive ships dumping 12,000+ passengers into a town built for maybe 1,000 people. Between 10am-4pm, the Old Town becomes a shoulder-to-shoulder shuffle. The Ladder of Kotor fortress trail gets clogged with slow-moving groups, turning a 90-minute hike into a 2.5-hour ordeal.
  • Accommodation prices roughly double compared to May or October, and anything decent books out 8-12 weeks ahead. Budget travelers struggle in July - hostels that cost 18-22 EUR in shoulder season jump to 35-45 EUR per bed. Hotels within the Old Town walls routinely hit 200-300 EUR for rooms that go for 80-100 EUR in spring.
  • Those 10 rainy days typically mean late afternoon thunderstorms that roll in from the mountains around 3-5pm. They're dramatic and brief - 20-40 minutes of proper downpour - but they can trap you in a cafe or force you to cut short a beach day. The bay amplifies thunder in ways that genuinely startle first-timers.

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Best Activities in July

Early Morning Fortress Wall Hiking

The San Giovanni Fortress climb gains 260 m (853 ft) over 1,350 steps through medieval fortifications. July heat makes this genuinely miserable after 9am - temperatures on the exposed stone stairs hit 35°C+ (95°F+) by mid-morning, and there's zero shade. Starting at 6:30-7am means you climb in 22-24°C (72-75°F) temperatures, finish by 8:30am, and watch cruise ships arrive from above while you're already back down having breakfast. The morning light on the bay is exceptional for photography. Entry costs 8 EUR, and you'll want 1.5-2 liters of water even in morning temperatures.

Booking Tip: No advance booking needed - just show up at the entrance near the North Gate. Go independently rather than with tours, which start too late and move too slowly. Budget 90-120 minutes round trip if you're reasonably fit, longer if you stop frequently for photos. Wear proper hiking shoes - the steps are uneven medieval stone, and people twist ankles every week trying this in sandals.

Bay of Kotor Kayaking and Swimming

July water temperatures of 24-26°C (75-79°F) make this the ideal month for paddling tours that combine kayaking with swimming stops. The bay stays relatively calm in mornings before afternoon breezes pick up around 2pm. Half-day tours typically paddle 6-8 km (3.7-5 miles) along the coastline to submarine tunnels, abandoned fortifications, and swimming coves that are only accessible by water. The bay's protected nature means even beginners handle it fine, and the mountain backdrop creates stunning scenery. Tours generally run 4-5 hours including swimming time.

Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead through operators with proper insurance - check they provide dry bags for phones and cameras. Morning departures between 8-9am are vastly better than afternoon slots due to calmer water and cooler temperatures. Typical cost runs 35-50 EUR including equipment and guide. Tours to Our Lady of the Rocks island are popular but get crowded - consider routes heading toward Dobrota or Ljuta instead for fewer tourists. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks Island Visits

This baroque village 12 km (7.5 miles) northwest of Kotor becomes magical in early evening when day-trippers leave. The artificial island church of Our Lady of the Rocks sits 5 minutes offshore by taxi boat. July means you can swim off Perast's small beaches in genuinely warm water, then explore the church museum and two palazzo museums before dinner. The village has maybe 350 residents but exceptional seafood restaurants with bay-view terraces. Going late afternoon around 5pm means you avoid the cruise ship crowds but still have 3-4 hours of good light.

Booking Tip: Skip organized tours - just take the public bus from Kotor's main station (runs hourly, 2.50 EUR, 25 minutes) or water taxi from the Old Town pier (15-20 EUR one-way, 30 minutes). Island taxi boats from Perast waterfront cost 5 EUR round trip and leave when they have 4-5 passengers. Budget 3-4 hours total for Perast plus island visit. Bring swimming gear - there are small beaches and swimming platforms around the village.

Blue Cave and Coastal Swimming Tours

The Blue Cave (Plava Spilja) on the Lustica Peninsula shows its famous blue luminescence best in July when sun angles are optimal between 11am-2pm. Boat tours typically combine the cave with stops at multiple swimming coves, hidden beaches, and sometimes the submarine tunnels near Mamula Island. You're looking at 4-6 hours on the water with 2-3 swimming stops. July water clarity is exceptional - visibility often reaches 15-20 m (49-66 ft). The cave itself only fits small boats of 8-12 people, and you swim inside the grotto where sunlight refracts through underwater openings.

Booking Tip: Book 10-14 days ahead as tours fill quickly in July - expect to pay 40-60 EUR for half-day trips or 70-90 EUR for full-day versions that include lunch. Morning departures work better before afternoon winds pick up. Tours leave from Kotor's main pier or from nearby Dobrota. Look for operators with speedboats rather than slow traditional boats - you'll spend more time swimming and less time traveling. Check if lunch is included or if you're stopping at beach restaurants. See booking options below for current availability.

Old Town Evening Exploration and Dining

Kotor's medieval Old Town becomes genuinely pleasant after 6pm when cruise passengers leave and temperatures drop to 25-27°C (77-81°F). The maze of marble-paved streets, baroque churches, and hidden squares takes 2-3 hours to properly explore. St. Tryphon's Cathedral, the Maritime Museum, and various small churches stay open until 7-8pm in July. The evening passeggiata tradition means locals come out around 7:30pm, creating actual atmosphere rather than the tourist circus of midday. Restaurants fill up between 8-9pm, and outdoor dining remains comfortable until midnight thanks to sea breezes.

Booking Tip: No booking needed for wandering - just enter through the Sea Gate or River Gate and get deliberately lost in the alleys. For dinner, either book restaurants a day ahead or show up right at 7pm before the rush. Budget 25-40 EUR per person for good seafood dinners with local wine. Avoid restaurants directly on the main squares - walk 2-3 streets deeper into the maze for better food and lower prices. The market square area and streets near the North Gate have better local-to-tourist ratios.

Lovcen National Park Mountain Escape

When bay temperatures hit 30°C (86°F), Lovcen's peaks at 1,200-1,600 m (3,937-5,249 ft) offer 8-10°C (14-18°F) cooler conditions and completely different scenery. The Njegos Mausoleum sits at 1,657 m (5,436 ft) with panoramic views across Montenegro and the Adriatic. July means all hiking trails are snow-free and accessible, with wildflowers at peak bloom. The mountain village of Njegusi produces Montenegro's famous prosciutto and cheese - every family seems to run a tasting room. This makes an excellent escape from cruise ship crowds and coastal heat, typically requiring 5-6 hours for a half-day trip.

Booking Tip: Rent a car (35-50 EUR per day) or book driver tours (50-70 EUR per person for groups of 4+) since public transport is limited. The serpentine road from Kotor involves 25 hairpin turns gaining 900 m (2,953 ft) in 20 km (12.4 miles) - it's dramatic but slow driving. Mausoleum entry costs 5 EUR. Budget extra time for Njegusi village tastings, which run 5-10 EUR per person for prosciutto, cheese, and rakija. Bring a light jacket - even July afternoons can be breezy at altitude. See booking options below for organized tours.

July Events & Festivals

Mid July

KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days

This classical music festival runs for roughly 10 days in July, bringing international chamber orchestras, soloists, and ensembles to perform in baroque churches and palazzo courtyards throughout the Old Town. Concerts typically happen at 9pm when temperatures cool down, and the acoustics in these stone venues are exceptional. It's been running since 1980 and attracts serious classical music audiences alongside tourists. Tickets usually go on sale in May and range from 10-30 EUR depending on the venue and performers.

Early August (occasionally late July)

Boka Night

This traditional maritime celebration happens one evening in early August (not July, but worth noting for late July visitors who might extend their stay). The entire Bay of Kotor lights up with boats decorated in lights, fireworks displays from multiple towns simultaneously, and waterfront festivities. It celebrates Kotor's naval history and the feast of Our Lady of the Rocks. If you're visiting late July, it's worth checking exact dates - it occasionally falls in the last days of July depending on the calendar.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Hiking shoes with ankle support and proper tread - the fortress walls involve 1,350 uneven medieval stone steps, and people genuinely injure themselves attempting this in sandals or smooth-soled sneakers. The stones are polished smooth from centuries of foot traffic.
SPF 50+ sunscreen and reapply every 90 minutes - UV index of 8 means you'll burn in 15-20 minutes without protection, and the bay's water reflection intensifies sun exposure. The fortress walls offer almost zero shade.
Lightweight rain jacket that packs small - those 10 rainy days typically mean sudden afternoon thunderstorms that dump heavy rain for 20-40 minutes then clear. You'll want something waterproof, not just water-resistant, as these storms are proper downpours.
Quick-dry swimwear and a microfiber towel - you'll likely swim multiple times per day in July, and hotel towels are bulky for day trips. Water temperatures of 24-26°C (75-79°F) mean you'll actually want to be in the water during the hottest hours.
Breathable cotton or linen clothing, definitely not polyester - 70 percent humidity makes synthetic fabrics genuinely uncomfortable. Loose-fitting clothes work better than tight athletic wear despite what Instagram suggests.
Refillable water bottle holding at least 1 liter (34 oz) - you'll need 2-3 liters daily in July heat, and buying bottled water constantly gets expensive at 2-3 EUR per bottle in tourist areas. Tap water in Kotor is safe to drink.
Comfortable walking sandals with back straps for evening Old Town exploration - the marble streets are smooth and can be slippery, so flip-flops are a bad choice. You'll walk 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) daily just exploring casually.
Light scarf or shawl for church visits - St. Tryphon's Cathedral and other churches enforce modest dress codes (covered shoulders and knees). This applies year-round but matters more in July when everyone's in beach clothes.
Portable phone charger - you'll use your phone constantly for photos, maps, and restaurant research, and July heat drains batteries faster. Many Old Town buildings have thick stone walls that kill cell signals, making your phone work harder.
Small dry bag for boat trips - kayaking tours, Blue Cave visits, and ferry rides all involve water spray and potential rain. Your phone and wallet need protection, and most tour operators don't provide waterproof storage.

Insider Knowledge

Cruise ship schedules are publicly posted at www.portofkotor.co.me - check this the night before to plan your day. When 3-4 ships are docked, avoid the Old Town between 10am-4pm entirely and use that time for Lovcen National Park, Perast, or beach areas. Days with zero ships feel like a completely different town.
The Ladder of Kotor (Scala di San Giovanni) has an alternative entrance through the village of Spiljari on the backside of the mountain. Locals use this route to avoid the main entrance crowds, and it's actually slightly shorter at 1,200 steps versus 1,350. You'll need a taxi to Spiljari (8-10 EUR from Old Town) but you'll essentially have the trail to yourself.
Restaurants inside the Old Town walls charge roughly 30-40 percent more than identical places in Dobrota (2 km north) or Muo (3 km south). These waterfront neighborhoods have excellent seafood restaurants where locals actually eat, with mains running 12-18 EUR instead of 20-28 EUR. The 20-minute walk along the bay promenade is pleasant in evening temperatures.
The afternoon thunderstorms in July almost always approach from the northeast over Mount Lovcen - you can literally watch them building from 2pm onward. When you see dark clouds gathering over the peaks, you've got roughly 60-90 minutes before rain hits the bay. Locals use this as a natural timer for beach days and outdoor activities.

Avoid These Mistakes

Attempting the fortress walls after 9am in July - this turns a spectacular hike into a genuinely miserable heat endurance test. The stone steps radiate heat, there's no shade, and you'll see people struggling badly by mid-morning. Start at 6:30-7am or skip it entirely for a day when you can start early.
Booking accommodation inside the Old Town walls thinking it's more convenient - these buildings are medieval, often lack air conditioning or have inadequate units, and the marble streets amplify noise until midnight or later. Places just outside the walls in Dobrota or Skaljari cost less, have better facilities, and are only a 10-minute walk from the action.
Eating lunch between noon-2pm when restaurants are packed with cruise passengers and prices reflect captive-audience economics. Either eat an early lunch around 11am or late lunch after 2:30pm when day-trippers are heading back to ships. The same meal can cost 30 percent less with this simple timing shift.

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